Casing spear



' Lm-,886 Nov. 20, 923- l W. BOYCIE CAS ING SPEAH Filed Dec. 2c, 1.922 2 sheets-Sheet l Nov. 2o, 1923 www@ G. W. BOYCE CASING SPEAR Filed Dec. 2c, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 provide a. device of this character, the

Patented Nov. 2G, 19213 EiaTEltlT GUT." W'. BOYCE, 01?' SLICCK, OKLAHOMA.

GSING SPEAR.

Application filed December 20, 1922.

To all 107mm t may concern-f Be it known that l, GUY ll?. Boron, a citizen of the United States, residing at Slick, in the county of Creek and State of IOklahoma. have invented certain new and useful improvements in Casing Spears, of which the following is a. specification. ref erence being hadto the accompanying drawin this invention relates to improvements in casing spears, and more particularly to a device of this character capable of use in removing broken or split pipe from a well.

further object of the invention is to parts of which are readily interchangeable and which while particularly adapted for the purpose above set forth. is capable of use for removing whole pipe with the removal of a single part.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is readily withdrawable and by means of which the grip upon the pipe may be readily released when desired.

These and other objects 1 attain by the construction and arrangement shown in the accompanying drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout.

ln the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a sectional view showing a. casing spear constructed in accordance with my invention before expansion of the gripping elements;

Figure 2 is a similar' view showing the gripping elements when being expanded;

Figures 3 and t are views similar to those shown in Figures 1 and 2 showing the device as used in pulling split pipe;

Figure 5 is a. perspective of the mandrel `operating member;

Figure 6 is a perspective of the upper end of the mandrel; h

Figures 7 and 8 are sections on the lines 7--7 and 8 8 of Figure 1 respectively; and

Figure 9 is a detailyiew showing the mandrel in the locked position.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 designates an attaching shank of the usual construction provided at its lower end with a guide section 1l Circular in cross section. This guide sec- Serial No. 608,005.

tion has its lower extremity threaded, as indicated at 1,2, for engagement in a threaded socket 13,4 formed in the upper end of a mandrel actuating member 141-, the upper end of which is of greater size than the shank having the socket 13 and combines with this shank to form an upwardly directed shouder 15.

The numeral 1G designates a spear element comprising a tube formed of elastic material. such as highly tempered steel, the lower, end of which is split, as indicated at 17, and has formed upon the several sections thereof gripping teeth 18, these teeth being formed at the lower extremities of the sections. rlhe upper end of the tube is flanged inwardly, providing a central opening 19 through which the stem 11 may be directed, and a downwardly directed shoulder 2O opposing' the shoulder 15 formed by the mandrel actuating member 14. Secured to the several sections 1i'u of the spear element 16 which are formed by the splitting of the tube at 17 upon the inner surface thereof, are slips 21, adapted when engaged by a mandrel member 22 to expand these sections outwardly for engagement with a pipe to be withdrawn from or placed in position within a well. rlhis mandrel member is adapted to be engaged by the mandrel actuating member 14 when downward movement of the spear is limited and forced downward` .ly to spread the. sections 17a by engagement with the slips 21 thereof, thereby causing the toothed portions 18 of these sections .to en gage in the inner face of the pipe to lock the pipe and spear together for movement. Downward movement of the spear element 16 within the casing is limited lby the shoulder 23 formed upon the exterior thereof above the sections 17a and adapted to engage against the upper end of the casing 'C with which the spear is to coact. ln order to allow of ready application of the spear element 16 to the guide section 11, this spear element is preferably formed in two sections having a threaded joint, as indicated at 16, this joint being formed above the shoulder 23. The sections of the spear element may accordingly be separated, allowing observation of the attachment of the guide element 11 with the mandrel actuating member 14 a nd the sections subsequently joined.k

The mandrel actuating member is preferably in the form of an inverted cone 2e provided at one side thereof with a lug 25 having a flat lower face. This flat lower face coacts with a shelf 26 formed upon the mandrel 22 and this mandrel has extending upwardly therefrom a tongue or latch member 27 embodying a downwardly directed shoulder 28 adapted to engage upon the upper face of the lug 25 when the mandrel actuating member is rotated to a given position so that the mandrel may be withdrawn by the mandrel actuating member from its coaction with the slips and thereby permit contraction of the sections 17a and the release of the pipe which has been engaged. Ordinarily the mandrel actuating member is so positioned that the lug 25 is not engaged by the shoulder 28 of the latch member so that if desired, it may be reciprocated through a predetermined distance to force or hammer the mandrel downwardly to spread the sections 17a but this actuating member is at all times readily rotatable for engagement by the lug with the shoulder 28.

I1 Order that the device may be employed for the handling of split pipe, I employ a shield 29 in the form of a cylinder, the lower end of which has its side walls upwardly and inwardly tapered, as indicated at 30, and which is provided at its upper end with a flange 31 ai'ording an opening through which the guide element 11 may be directed, and a downwardly directed shoul-der 32 for engagement with the upper end of the spear element 16. This shield 29 is of such internal diameter that it has a sliding fit with the external shoulder 23 of the spear element and accordin ly when the pipe to be removed is engage the upwardly inclined lower walls of the shield will cause the pipe to be directed between the spear sections 17a of the spear element and the inner face of the'shield. When upward movement thereof 1s limited by the shoulder 23, the down ward movement of the guide element 11 will cause the mandrel 22 to expand the seetions 1'?a and since outward movement of the split end of the pipe is prevented by the shield 29, will cause the toothed portions 18 of these sections to firmly engage in the pipe to permit its withdrawal.

That portion of the mandrel 22 which engages the slips 21 is adapted, as indicated at 32, so that it acts as a wedge in engaging the slips to force the teeth 18 into engagement with the casing C. rllhis tapered portion has formed thereon an annular rib 33 and each of the slips 21 has formed therein a groove 34, these grooves coacting to receive the annular rib 33 of the tapered portion 32 of the slips and prevent upward movement of the mandrel while the teeth 18 are in engaged position. IThe actuating member may accordingly be withdrawn from the mandrel until its upper face 15 comes into engagement with the upper end with an operating line, a spear element sur' rounding the guide element and provided at its lower end with expansible sections having toothed outer faces, slips carried by the eXpansible sections, a mandrel within the spear element for expanding said sections by engagement with said slips, and a member carried by the lower end of the guide element and engageable with the mandrel element to force the same downwardly for engagement with the slips or to withdraw the same from engagement with the slips.

2. In a casing spear, and in combination, a spear element embodying expansible gripping sections, means for expanding the gripping sections, a shield surrounding the spear v element and coactin with the spear element to receive there etween the upper end of a section of casing.

3. In a casing spear, a guide element adapted at its upper end for engagement with an operating line, a spear element surrounding the guide element and provided at its lower end with eXpansible sections having toothed outer faces, slips carried by the expansible sections, a mandrel within the spear element for expanding said sections by engagement with said slips, a member carried by the lower end of the guide element and engageable with the mandrel element to force the same downwardly for engagement with the slips or to withdraw the same from engagement with the slips, and a shield surroundin the spear element, said shield and spear e ement coacting to receive therebetween the upper end oi a section of well casing.

4f. ln a casing spear, and in combination, a spear element embodying eXpansible gripping sections, means for expanding the gripping sections, a shield surrounding the spear I element and coactin with the spear element to receive there etween the upper end' of a section of casing, and means carried by the spear element engaging the upper end of the pipe to limit movement of the pipe upwardly between the spear and shield element.

5. ln a easing spear, a guide element adapted at its upper end for engagement with an operating line, a spear element rounding the guide element and provided at its lower end with expansible sections having toothed outer faces, slips carried by the expansible sections, a mandrel within the spear element for expanding said sections by engagement with said slips,a member carried by the lower end of the guido element and engageable with the mandrel element to force the same downwardly for engagement with the slips 0r to withdraw the `same from engagement with the slips. and

ber for said mandrel engageable with and withdrawable from the mandrel. Y

7. In a casing spear, a spear element including expansible sections having toothed outer faces, slips carried by the sections, a mandrel within the spear elementJ for eX- panding said sections by engagement with said slips, and a suspension member for the spear element embodying an actuating member for said mandrel engageable with and withdrawable from the mandrel.. Said actuating member when engaged with the mandrel being rotatable with relation thereto and eoacting portions of said mandrel and actuating member interlocking upon relative rotation thereof to engage the mandrel with said element for withdrawal thereby.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature.

GUY W. BOYCE. 

